Window frame assembly



March 6, 1962 T. G. scoNzo 3,023,465

WINDOW FRAME ASSEMBLY Filed May 11, 1960 INVENTOR THOMAS GSCONZO MXMMATTORNEY 3,023,465 WENDOW FRAME ASSEMBLY Thomas G. Sconzo, Macon St.,Sayville, N.Y. Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,434 7 Claims. (CI. 20-55)This invention relates to storm windows as used for application todouble hung windows in architectural structures, and more particularlyto novel means for providing a convenient and simple assembly havingreadily removable components.

It is customary in applying storm windows to double hung wooden exteriorwindows, as is done in cold climates to reduce the heat transmissionthrough the window glass, to reduce infiltration of outside air in theform of drafts, and to ameliorate the cold surface effort of exposedglass areas, for the storm window to be constructed and attached in sucha manner that at least the sashes thereof are removable. This is done inorder that the interior surfaces may be cleaned, and in the case ofstorm windows constructed with wood frames, so that they may be removedfor storage during the summer and replaced with insect screens ifdesired, during this period when their function of improving indoorcomfort and fuel saving is not needed.

Inasmuch as conventional wooden storm windows are heavy and difficult tohandle, usually requiring to be applied and removed from the outside ofthe building, and often requiring the use of a long and heavy ladder fortheir manipulation, the metal storm Window has gained favor as animprovement thereon, since it does not require this seasonal effort inhandling, and avoids the considerable and continuing expense of labor inhaving it done.

This is accomplished by the use of sashes and frames constructed ofrelatively thin sections of metal; often aluminum is used because of itslight weight, durability and ease of fabrication. When so constructed,the dimensions of the storm window are sufiiciently reduced so that bothsashes and screen can be combined into one structure of reasonable sizeand all the movable elements are so light that they can be handledwithout difficulty from the inside.

It is, of course, necessary in order to accomplish the full purposes ofthis type of construction, to make provision for the removal of allmovable elements inwardly, to provide for cleaning, repair, and storagewhen necessary. Storm window construction of the prior art has showningenious arrangements of slotted channels and other devices adapted topermit sash removal, but because of the need for switching the sash outof its regular up and-down track and into another path in order toremove it, have always required that extra clearance be provided for thesash in the track, so that it makes a loose fit when used for itsordinary functions. This is usually overcome to some extent by springloading the sash into contact with the frame, with the result that thesash becomes diflicult to move, requires more frame space than isnecessary to its normal function and is expensive to manufacture.

All of these difficulties I have overcome in the present invention byproviding a storm window wherein all parts associated with the slidingsurfaces engaged by the sash and of the sash itself are manufacturableby the inexpensive process of extrusion. Moreover, this is accomplishedwithout the use of sash springs, and in a compact manner which renders acomplete storm window assembly small enough in external dimensions toprovide an appearance which is architecturally pleasing.

In addition to this, the unique construction of my Weatherstrippingdevice, as hereinafter described, enables any or all of the sashes to beremoved from the inside for EfiZBAfiS Patented Mar. 6, 1962 purposes ofcleaning, without intricacy of construction, and without interfering toany degree with the weathertight properties of the window assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means forapplying a metal frame storm window to a double hung Window whileproviding a weathertight seal therebetween without distorting said stormwindow.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a storm window forexternal application which provides three-track construction withdiminished projection from the building structure.

Another object is to provide inherent means in extruded storm windowframe member stock for the convenient removal of storm window sasheswithout need for the fabrication of said means in the individual stormwindows constructed from such stock.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from adetailed description of a preferred illustrative embodiment thereoftaken in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a viewof a storm window;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view of a portion of FIG. 2.

Turning now to the drawings, there is seen in FIG. 1 an interior view ofa storm window 12, having upper and lower sashes 13 and 14 respectively,and side frame members such as 15.

The side frame member 15 is shown in cross section, together with thesashes 13 and 14 and a screen panel 15' not elsewhere shown, in the viewof FIG. 2. Member 15 is seen to consist of three cavity portions such as16 for the several sliding sashes, and a flange portion 17 forattachment to the exterior of a wooden window frame shown dotted at 18by means of screws such as 19.

It is found that in many cases settling of the building structure orother causes result in windows and especially wood frame windowsbecoming skewed in their aspect, so that when a storm window fabricatedof metal is attempted to be inserted within the window opening, the muchgreater precision of construction of the metal window and the desirablycloser tolerances employed in its fabrication result in sticking,binding or inoperativeness of the window when it is deformed toaccommodate the shape of the existing opening. Since the plane of theouter trim surfaces is not appreciably distorted by this settling of thestructure, however, it is found that the storm window can be thereapplied without this disadvantage, if the storm window is expresslyadapted for application to the outside facing boards of the existingwindow.

In the present invention, when the frame 15 is applied by means offastenings such as the screw 19 to the outer trim, the infiltration ofair therebetween is prevented by means of the recess 21 into which isinserted the square spline 22 with extensions protruding beneath thelower surface of the flange 17 of frame 15, and comprising acompressible material capable of being forced into an impermeable windseal when compressed against member 18 by the screws 19. It is shown infurther detail in FIG. 4

Upper and lower sash members 13 and 14 are shown together with a movableinsect screen member 15' in FIG.

2 and because of the unique construction of the instantsired, and whenthose heads associated with screen member 15 are so withdrawn, permit itto be moved inwardly from the frame 15'. When this is done, the spline27, seen more clearly in FIG. 3 is exposed on both the right and leftframes 15. Spline 27 is constructed of any suitable durable andresilient flexible material having a suitably low coefficient offriction and good sealing properties, such as vinyl plastic polymer, ora metal strip which is extruded in the shape shown in FIG. 3 in lengthsadequate to be cut into strips the full length of frame 15. Said spline27 contains a groove 27a in tail 2% for accommodating a felt or likestrip 27!) extending through the length of the groove. The splines arethen inserted into the appropriate cavities of frame 15 as shown in FIG.2 by sliding them lengthwise into the respective cavities beforeassembly of the storm window as shown. Because of the reentrant natureof these cavities, the bulb 28 of spline 27 is locked into place and cannot be removed after assembly. Due to the circular cross sectional shapeof bulb 28 and its corresponding cavity, however, the spline 27 isfreely rotatable within the cavity, and while the tail 29 with feltstrip 27b of the spline acts as a low friction sliding raceway andwindproof seal against infiltration of outside air in the position shownin FIG. 2, it is nevertheless capable of swinging freely at least ninetydegrees inwardly about the axis of the bulb 28 to enable sashes 13 or 14to be removed inwardly without hindrance when the conical heads 23 ofthat sash are withdrawn toward the center of the sash as previouslydescribed. The sash 13 is then removable in like manner.

It will be apparent that the sashes 13 and 14- are thereby provided witha smooth and slippery sliding surface upon which to travel up and downwith very little lifting eifort, and without adding more to the depthdimension of the window than two thicknesses of the tail 29 of strip 27,which may be made as thin as desired consistent with the requirements ofstrength and durability. The practicability of using an arrangementhaving such a low coefiicient of friction is provided, however, by thearrangement of the heads 23 which cause an effective window lockingaction to take place at any desired height of the sash, without dangerof dropping the sash, and while still providing the essential ease ofremoval of these sashes and the screen panel 15.

While this invention has been described in terms of a specificillustrative embodiment thereof, it is understood that variousmodifications or elaborations thereof may be undertaken by those skilledin the art, without however, departing from the essential spirit of theinvention, and it is therefore intended that the invention be limitedonly by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a window, side frame members having a uniform cross section andincluding serrated ledges for sash locking and a flange for applicationto exterior building surfaces, having a reentrant, gasket retainingrecess in the sealing surface of said flange, said cross section havingreentrant circular recesses positioned beneath said serrated ledgessplines of resilient plastic material in and filling said reentrantcircular recesses and having protruding sash sealing surfaces swingablethereabout at least approximately 90 to a sash releasing position.

i 2. In a metal frame storm window having unbroken longitudinal sidemembers and removable sashes, and having sash channels in the sidemembers spline holding fingers comprising reentrant cavity wallsthroughout the length of said side members and defining a plurality ofcavities of circular cross section, and extruded splines of resilientslippery plastic material having in cross section a circular bulb end,inserted in said cavities by axial sliding, and rotatable therein atleast ninety degrees, and having a tail end comprising sash contactingand sliding surfaces swingable out of sash engagement for sash removal,said splines extending the length of said side members, and beingremovable therefrom only by axial sliding therein, and constituting asash channel sliding surface.

3. In a storm window, the combination comprising frame means havingunbroken vertical side members, and having flange means on the sidemembers of said frame means, for application to the exterior surface ofa structure, and having a reentrant cavity extending entirely along theface thereof, sealing means in said flange means comprising a resilientstrip of gasket material inserted in and substantially filling saidcavity, spline holding fingers comprising reentrant cavity walls in theinner side of said side members, resilient splines of slippery materialwithin said cavity walls and retained thereby, the said splines havingin cross section one end which is in the shape of a round bulb engagingthe cavity and another end in the shape of an elongated tail protrudingfrom the cavity and rotatable thereabout at least degrees for stormwindow sash removal, and locking means on the side members for sashretention at any level.

4. In a window having removable sashes, sash sealing means comprisingvertical frame members having a plurality of reentrant circular channelsrunning the full length of said members, splines of resilient plasticmaterial occupying said channels and protruding therefrom in sashsealing relationship, said splines being rotatable in said channels forsash removal, and sash locks on the sashes located for engaging saidframe members in frame wedging sash locking relationship for sashretention at any height of said opening.

5. Storm window sash retaining means comprising as one of a pair ofvertical window frame members a grooved frame member and a plurality ofvertical splines of a constant cross sectional shape having a circularlybulbous enlargement as one end and a protruding tail portion as theother end thereof, said splines extending substantially the full framemember height and being retained within and adapted for rotation for atleast 90 degrees about the axes of reentrant circular spline containingwindow frame member grooves and located adjacent to the path of sashtravel for swingingly engaging and releasing a sash.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein the said splines comprise a resilientand slippery-surfaced thermoplastic compound.

7. In a window having a plurality of removable sashes and a pair of sideframe members connected together by a header and a sill, a plurality ofspline holding means defining a plurality of mutually parallel recessesin each side frame member and forming together with the walls of themember a cross section haw'ng open circular cavities adjacent the memberwalls and comprising with each said adjacent Wall a pair of reentrantlips defining the opening of each circular cavity, and a like pluralityof splines having each an enlarged portion extending within a pair ofsaid lips throughout the length of a said spline and having a portionextending lateral and external of the said lips acting as a sealintermediate the removable sashes, said splines being rotatable axiallyin the cavities at least ninety degrees and comprising sash contactingslidable surfaces swingable out of sash engagement for sash re-. moval,M

No references cited.

